diff --git a/mx_flock.c b/mx_flock.c
index bdbbaf30..f6939f22 100644
--- a/mx_flock.c
+++ b/mx_flock.c
@@ -58,11 +58,7 @@ static inline void _flock_free(struct mx_flock *lock)
     if (!lock)
         return;
 
-    if (lock->fname)
-        mx_free_null(lock->fname);
-
-    if (lock->fd >= 0)
-        _flock_close(lock);
+    mx_free_null(lock->fname);
 
     free(lock);
 }
@@ -112,6 +108,7 @@ struct mx_flock *mx_flock(int operation, char *fmt, ...)
             if (errno == EWOULDBLOCK)
                 return lock;
             mx_log_err("flock(): %m");
+            _flock_close(lock);
             _flock_free(lock);
             return NULL;
         }
@@ -155,3 +152,8 @@ int mx_funlock(struct mx_flock *lock)
 
     return res;
 }
+
+void mx_flock_free(struct mx_flock *lock)
+{
+    _flock_free(lock);
+}
diff --git a/mx_flock.h b/mx_flock.h
index 22725383..34ab4e8d 100644
--- a/mx_flock.h
+++ b/mx_flock.h
@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ struct mx_flock {
 
 struct mx_flock *mx_flock(int operation, char *fmt, ...);
 int mx_funlock(struct mx_flock *lock);
+void mx_flock_free(struct mx_flock *lock);
 
 #endif